Checking what the rest of you want to do, before posting in the official thread.
Beegred would ask about the Warden's backstory, specifically because they were warned not to ask that. But hopefully the group shuts him up before he can do that.
Do we ask if he knows about the demonic beings in the Underdark? More info on the Pudding King, like how to deal with the oozes? Or maybe he knows a better path to the surface? Or where to find resources (magic items) nearby to allow the group to help the Blingdingsteiners? (Skameros could use a nice acid-resistant two-handed weapon, or something for the spell-casters.)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM) Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy) DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
TBH I have lost track of why we're doing whatever we're doing - I thought we were trying to get back to the surface?
Also Skameros has two greataxes - one beat up by oozes and one in normal condition - and I don't expect we'll find any magical ones along the way as we continue this adventure
Yes, Beegred, Rodolfo and Narstin came to Blingdenstone to ask for a route to the surface world. Skameros, who joined the party in Neverlight Grove, is along for his own reasons. Orubis and Grithik just recently joined the party in Blingdenstone, and will be accompanying them to the surface for their own reasons. Narstin has determined he is needed in Blingdenstone for the foreseeable future and will not be leaving with the rest of our party.
When the 'party' got to Blingdenstone, the deep gnomes were not willing to divulge a local route to the surface. They were also not willing to provide a guide to some other route to the surface that is reasonably far enough away from Blingdenstone to keep Blingdenstone safe, because their colonization effort was failing for many reasons. A lot of their population are affected by madness, especially those that work and live outside of Blingdenstone. They are effectively at war with the wererat Goldwhisker clan. Their inner Blingdenstone sanctum itself isn't safe as it is infested with ghosts and infiltrated regularly by slimes and oozes who pass thru. The rest of Blingdenstone that hasn't been claimed is deemed too dangerous to clear out with their dwindling resources, because their front line fighters, earth elementals, go crazy and become uncontrollable. All this is topped by the escalating danger of the underdark itself, which is keeping them from trading their resources or receiving any kind of help.
So your party has been doing what they can to alleviate the pressures and problems of the gnomes, to earn their trust and free them up to be able to help you in return. You have so far thwarted an attack by a gelatinous ooze in the market. You have rooted out and and defeated a Medusa in the Rockblight. You have sanctified a religious menhir in the Rockblight. You have gathered evidence of and experience with an entity known as Ogremoch's Bane, which is still a problem to be dealt with. And now, you have cleared out one of the residences (burrows) of an insane and violent ghost, as well as laid to rest the bones of another ghost that thinks it is defending itself as it relives the day the drow invaded Blingdenstone over and over. With the poltergeist defeated and the ghost laid to rest, Burrow Warden Jaeger (a ghost himself) is offering to provide a reward, although he doesn't remember what he promised to you earlier. You (should) know that this ghost is rooted in the ancient past and forms no memory of recent happenings and interactions. Whatever you can ask of it has to be ancient knowledge that is somehow useful to you in these modern times.
Rodolfo can logic out that Burrow Warden Jaeger died in the drow assault on Blingenstone. At that time and prior to the assault, the entirety of Bllingdenstone was lived in by the gnomes. Something like Ogremoch's Bane would have been a big problem for them. It is very likely Ogremoch's Bane appeared in Blingdenstone after the Deep Gnomes were forced out.
Rodolfo says, "We are seeking a way to the surface. Where is the way and what should we know about it?"
In writing my response for these questions, I have become aware that I have been screwing up the timeline and locations in the world of the Forgotten Realms in my head. For those of you who have read R.A. Salvatore's Drizz't series (which I haven't read in a LOOONG time), the Deep Gnomes of Blingdenstone were not attacked by the drow until they went and helped the dwarves of Mithril Hall repel a Drow attack/invasion. In retaliation, the Drow bid their time and then sacked Blingdenstone, which is an event that you are learning about in bits and pieces in this module.
In my mind, the sacking of Blingdenstone occurred many hundreds of years in the past, and prior to that the Deep Gnomes did not interact with the surface world. Now I can't say that is actually true in R.A Salvatore's world... maybe the Deep Gnomes did know of the surface world and did some trade with them?
Regardless, I apologize if my response isn't lore correct, but for this module, or from Burrow Warden Jaeger's knowledge, the only route the Deep Gnomes knew to get to the surface was through the dwarven city of Mithril Hall.
I've read a bunch of the Drizz't series, including ones about the (re)discovery of the Mithril Hall, but not further. Is that a branch-off of the main story somewhere down the line where the drow attack it?
In 1338 DR, Drizz't befriended Burrow Warden Belwar Dissengulp of Blingdenstone. Many years pass.
The drow, led by Yvonnel Baenre tried to attack Mithril Hall in 1358 DR, but Drizz't found out early and warned Bruenor Battlehammer. Bruenor called on allies to help defend. Burrow Warden Dissengulp (asked by Drizz't?) led a force of 300 svirfneblin to hit the Drow from the rear. The Drow invasion failed.
The Drow waited for some time then attacked Blingdenstone in 1371 in retaliation, killing approximately 9000 deep gnomes. Survivors settled in the Silver Marches or in Mithril Hall.
In 1440 DR the Deep Gnomes returned to Blingdenstone to resettle.
So I suppose that means Out of the Abyss happens a some years after 1440 DR.
I think about 60 years of Marvel Comics. I liked when the writers tried to respect the events of past stories, but there are enough contradictions (either accidental or due to bad writers/editors) that they shouldn't be handcuffed by the past.
I haven't read the series. Just consider this campaign to be an alternate reality compared to Salvatore's world, and decide what version of events works best for you and your creation.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM) Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy) DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
I'm progressing the story forward in bits and pieces, to give you all a chance to act or reply to the situation that is unfolding. If you are not posting because you have nothing to add, then you can just drop a quick message in OOC and I will know to continue with the narrative in the main thread.
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM) Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy) DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Rodolfo listens and asks, "Is there a plan for retreat as well or are we completely cut off and must fight until victory or death?"
"Let's just bug out and call it even, OK? What are we talking about this for?" - Hudson from "Aliens" Beegred
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM) Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy) DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Ghost Warden Jaeger is waiting for your response.
Checking what the rest of you want to do, before posting in the official thread.
Beegred would ask about the Warden's backstory, specifically because they were warned not to ask that.
But hopefully the group shuts him up before he can do that.
Do we ask if he knows about the demonic beings in the Underdark?
More info on the Pudding King, like how to deal with the oozes?
Or maybe he knows a better path to the surface?
Or where to find resources (magic items) nearby to allow the group to help the Blingdingsteiners?
(Skameros could use a nice acid-resistant two-handed weapon, or something for the spell-casters.)
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec
Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM)
Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Orubis has no magical items and would be thrilled to get something. But weren’t we here to help with the housing?
Paladin - warforged - orange
TBH I have lost track of why we're doing whatever we're doing - I thought we were trying to get back to the surface?
Also Skameros has two greataxes - one beat up by oozes and one in normal condition - and I don't expect we'll find any magical ones along the way as we continue this adventure
Skameros - Bugbear Barbarian - Out of the Abyss - By Kerrec
Follow your Arrow where it Points - Tabaxi Monk - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
Citron Pumpkinfoam - Fairy Monk - Project Point: Team Longsword
The slow pace of PBP is it's bane.
Yes, Beegred, Rodolfo and Narstin came to Blingdenstone to ask for a route to the surface world. Skameros, who joined the party in Neverlight Grove, is along for his own reasons. Orubis and Grithik just recently joined the party in Blingdenstone, and will be accompanying them to the surface for their own reasons. Narstin has determined he is needed in Blingdenstone for the foreseeable future and will not be leaving with the rest of our party.
When the 'party' got to Blingdenstone, the deep gnomes were not willing to divulge a local route to the surface. They were also not willing to provide a guide to some other route to the surface that is reasonably far enough away from Blingdenstone to keep Blingdenstone safe, because their colonization effort was failing for many reasons. A lot of their population are affected by madness, especially those that work and live outside of Blingdenstone. They are effectively at war with the wererat Goldwhisker clan. Their inner Blingdenstone sanctum itself isn't safe as it is infested with ghosts and infiltrated regularly by slimes and oozes who pass thru. The rest of Blingdenstone that hasn't been claimed is deemed too dangerous to clear out with their dwindling resources, because their front line fighters, earth elementals, go crazy and become uncontrollable. All this is topped by the escalating danger of the underdark itself, which is keeping them from trading their resources or receiving any kind of help.
So your party has been doing what they can to alleviate the pressures and problems of the gnomes, to earn their trust and free them up to be able to help you in return. You have so far thwarted an attack by a gelatinous ooze in the market. You have rooted out and and defeated a Medusa in the Rockblight. You have sanctified a religious menhir in the Rockblight. You have gathered evidence of and experience with an entity known as Ogremoch's Bane, which is still a problem to be dealt with. And now, you have cleared out one of the residences (burrows) of an insane and violent ghost, as well as laid to rest the bones of another ghost that thinks it is defending itself as it relives the day the drow invaded Blingdenstone over and over. With the poltergeist defeated and the ghost laid to rest, Burrow Warden Jaeger (a ghost himself) is offering to provide a reward, although he doesn't remember what he promised to you earlier. You (should) know that this ghost is rooted in the ancient past and forms no memory of recent happenings and interactions. Whatever you can ask of it has to be ancient knowledge that is somehow useful to you in these modern times.
Right, lets ask about a path to the surface then.
Or about the divide between the gnomes? Or about the ogremach? That last would probably solve a lot of problems
Paladin - warforged - orange
Rodolfo can logic out that Burrow Warden Jaeger died in the drow assault on Blingenstone. At that time and prior to the assault, the entirety of Bllingdenstone was lived in by the gnomes. Something like Ogremoch's Bane would have been a big problem for them. It is very likely Ogremoch's Bane appeared in Blingdenstone after the Deep Gnomes were forced out.
In writing my response for these questions, I have become aware that I have been screwing up the timeline and locations in the world of the Forgotten Realms in my head. For those of you who have read R.A. Salvatore's Drizz't series (which I haven't read in a LOOONG time), the Deep Gnomes of Blingdenstone were not attacked by the drow until they went and helped the dwarves of Mithril Hall repel a Drow attack/invasion. In retaliation, the Drow bid their time and then sacked Blingdenstone, which is an event that you are learning about in bits and pieces in this module.
In my mind, the sacking of Blingdenstone occurred many hundreds of years in the past, and prior to that the Deep Gnomes did not interact with the surface world. Now I can't say that is actually true in R.A Salvatore's world... maybe the Deep Gnomes did know of the surface world and did some trade with them?
Regardless, I apologize if my response isn't lore correct, but for this module, or from Burrow Warden Jaeger's knowledge, the only route the Deep Gnomes knew to get to the surface was through the dwarven city of Mithril Hall.
Oh, interesting.
I've read a bunch of the Drizz't series, including ones about the (re)discovery of the Mithril Hall, but not further. Is that a branch-off of the main story somewhere down the line where the drow attack it?
The basics:
In 1338 DR, Drizz't befriended Burrow Warden Belwar Dissengulp of Blingdenstone. Many years pass.
The drow, led by Yvonnel Baenre tried to attack Mithril Hall in 1358 DR, but Drizz't found out early and warned Bruenor Battlehammer. Bruenor called on allies to help defend. Burrow Warden Dissengulp (asked by Drizz't?) led a force of 300 svirfneblin to hit the Drow from the rear. The Drow invasion failed.
The Drow waited for some time then attacked Blingdenstone in 1371 in retaliation, killing approximately 9000 deep gnomes. Survivors settled in the Silver Marches or in Mithril Hall.
In 1440 DR the Deep Gnomes returned to Blingdenstone to resettle.
So I suppose that means Out of the Abyss happens a some years after 1440 DR.
I think about 60 years of Marvel Comics.
I liked when the writers tried to respect the events of past stories, but there are enough contradictions (either accidental or due to bad writers/editors) that they shouldn't be handcuffed by the past.
I haven't read the series. Just consider this campaign to be an alternate reality compared to Salvatore's world, and decide what version of events works best for you and your creation.
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec
Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM)
Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
I'm progressing the story forward in bits and pieces, to give you all a chance to act or reply to the situation that is unfolding. If you are not posting because you have nothing to add, then you can just drop a quick message in OOC and I will know to continue with the narrative in the main thread.
Nothing to add at the moment
Paladin - warforged - orange
Skameros is going to need to eat some meat.......because as we all know
If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding
:D
Skameros - Bugbear Barbarian - Out of the Abyss - By Kerrec
Follow your Arrow where it Points - Tabaxi Monk - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
Citron Pumpkinfoam - Fairy Monk - Project Point: Team Longsword
Hmm... Blood Pudding. You can have your pudding and eat it too!
Just discovered that steak & kidney pudding is a thing. (link to recipe)
Who says we don't need no education?
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec
Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM)
Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Another tidbit posted. Feel free to respond/roleplay before I post the next bits.
"Let's just bug out and call it even, OK? What are we talking about this for?" -
Hudson from "Aliens"BeegredBeegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec
Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM)
Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Rodolfo is being clever in trying to find out the best way to get the hell out of there and leave all of that mess behind :)